Gobble Gobble Gobble

And that we did. What a wonderful weekend it has been. Family, friends, and food. I am full to the brim.

My little Indian

and Pilgrim

were very sad when the feast was over and they had to take off their moccasins and hang their hats. I hope when your day (weekend) was done that you too felt full.

Wordless Wednesday - Night Lights

Hats Off To You

I couldn't resist. I had to add something else to go with this scarf. I still haven't decided if I'm going to fringe or not ... I have until Christmas ;-) So, instead I made a beanie.

It's so warm and cozy. I need to make another for myself.

I have so much to say (swap goodies to share, projects, stories) that will have to wait. I have too much going on in my brain and my house right now ... as I'm sure you do to this Thanksgiving. I plan to work on a tutorial for the grocery bag and I have a few other tricks up my sleeve ... er ... under my hat ;-) as well. My posting might be sporadic until the rush is over ... so until I am back to the regularly scheduled SOAK broadcast ... hats off to you! Have a wonderful, safe, and blessed Thanksgiving!

It's Very Clear ...

... our love is here to stay

Not for a year but ever and a day

The radio and the telephone and the movies that we know

May just be passing fancies and in time may go

But oh, my dear, our love is here to stay

Together we're going a long, long way

In time the Rockies may crumble,

Gibraltar may tumble

They're only made of clay

But our love is here to stay ...

Happy Anniversary DH ~ you are still sweeping me off my feet.

As Shakespeare Once Wrote

To fringe, or not to fringe:

That is the question ...

So, tell me, are you on the fringe?

Curtain Call

Well, I finally finished ...

It only took me nine months but who's keeping track? Excuse the poor picture and the blind thingy on the left. I just rigged it to make sure it didn't need tweaking before I actually hung it.

Now on to Act II. You didn't actually think I had finished both curtains did you?

Wordless Wednesday - Back Yard View

It's The Simple Things

I just

to make something for someone.

Once received, I

.

their gift will bring them much

If nothing else, these lavender sachets will get lots of nose time ...

Daybreak, and here am I

Star bound against the sky

Have you ever watched a blossom fall

Or heard a Robin call and wondered why?

For awhile, think on the simple things

How a smile can cause a heart to sing

Daybreak is just a prayer

For the many things the day can bring

A heart full of simple things

Night bird, ride the wind

Find your way to where the day begins

Shadows waiting in the fading light

Have whispered their goodnight and slipped away

Hear me now, think on the simple things

How a song can cause the world to sing

Kneel now with me in prayer

For many things the day can bring

A heart full of simple things

A heart full of simple things

Simple Things by Jerry Caldwell

The Eighth Wonder of The World

The other great pyramid.

somebody.please.stop.me.

Get To Goin' Green

Check off another Christmas present from the list!

These are the first totes that I've made from canvas and I really like how they turned out.




I made more modifications to the original tutorial and this version I think is my last ... I'll try to get the Some of a Kind version documented for you before the holidays - you can help everyone on your list to get to goin' green and check a Christmas present off your list!

One of *Those* Days

Ever have 'em?

Having John sit stand- squirm- scream ... choose your adjective in my lap to get his hair cut was the start of my day ... I never new I was capable of such strength while covered in a cape and perched in a chair.


Leaving an indoor gym with John in a football hold ... the nearby construction workers were impressed with my athleticism ...


While Henry is supposed to be napping he is really tip toeing through the bathroom that has fresh cement ...

While preparing dinner, John ventured out of the playroom into the living room and decided to explore the books on the lower shelf ...

I was in dire need of some quick craft-therapy.

Ahhh ... now that's better.

Swap Dex

Have you heard of it? Swap Dex that is. If you haven't go over there (but come back here ;-} ) and check it out. It's a swappers dream come true. Swaps are listed that you might never have know about - oh the tragedy that would be to miss out on that swap!

I just discovered this wonderful site myself when Jenna contacted me about listing my Thankful Things Swap. I have really had to tap into some serious self control. I want to sign up for them all!

So ... enough said. Go check it out and if you aren't already on Some of a Kind overload you can also read an interview she did of me - little ol' me!

Wordless Wednesday - Sunday Stroll

Anything Wrap

I am not the biggest fan of bias tape ... I try to avoid it if I can. So if you are like me and want to make the Gratitude Wrap but don't want to mess with tape (or have it mess with you!) ... here are the very loose and modified instructions that I made to Soule Mamma's original instructions (which I will refer to) ...

For starters, I used the same dimensions for the outer fabric, lining fabric, and fleece (not quilting batting). The pocket sizes are up to you depending on what you plan to put in your 'anything wrap'. I modified (so I will not give dimensions for pockets) to fit what you will see below in the pictures.

1 - baste stitch the fleece (1/4 inch or less) to the wrong side of either the outer or lining fabric to create one piece of fabric

2 - follow instructions to make and place pockets to the lining based on your own use of wrap

3 - place right sides of outer and lining fabric together - pin - remember to mark a few inches (3 or 4) to leave open for turning right side out

4 - stitch with 1/2 seam then trim corners

5 - turn right side out - press flat - pin (if needed opening close) and edge stitch around wrap

6 - cut 2 strips for ties - good grief - I can't remember the measurements ... try these out and if they don't work don't send me nasty emails ;-) 12" x 1 1/2" - press like so:

ends down first

then press in half, open, then fold and press each side to the crease you just made

7 - fold in half (so the cut edges are now hidden) and edge stitch each tie

8 - attach ties as Soule Mamma directs

There ya go! The Gratitude Wrap turned Anything Wrap made the Some of a Kind Way!

Happy sewing ... anything!

Hostess With The Mostess

I hope the only thing smoking in my Flirty Apron Swap partner's kitchen this holiday season ...

is her in her hot little number.

Sweet

Lisa passed on this sweet little award to me ... but I have to give (some not so sweet I'm sure) answers to the following:

7 Things I Plan To Do Before I Die

This one it tough. It's not that I don't have dreams but my perspective has changed now that I have children ... and the world has changed. At one time I wanted to take a train through Europe, take a month (or two) long drive across the United States, visit the upper east coast during the fall (Maine, Vermont), buy property (50 +) acres and have a rustic retreat, restore an old house (I think we are doing that now!), show my boys how to love and that it knows no boundaries

7 Things I Do Now

Sew, read, play with my boys, cook (stop laughing DH), bake, volunteer, take lots of pictures

7 Things I Can't Do

Sing, knit quickly (if you count what I do as knitting!), follow directions very well, speak Spanish even though I took 3 years in high school, play tennis, read small print with out reading glasses, remember ... anything!

7 Things That Attract Me In The Opposite Sex

Sense of humor, eyes/smile, height (I like 'em tall), a suit, hands, manners (gotta open a door for a lady), integrity

7 Things I Say Most Often

Henry - stop aggravating your brother, John - stop aggravating your brother, go to the restroom and wash your hands, Honey - have you opened the wine?, BOYS - stop it - NOW, I love you, I'm so glad God made you

7 Celebrities I Admire

None really. Boring. I know.

7 Favourite Foods

Pizza, chocolate (that counts right?), sausage and egg biscuits, Mexican, Italian, Kashi Black Bean Mango, cheese

7 Bloggers Who Need To Do This

Ack! I don't know who to tag ... if you are reading ... consider yourself tagged! Sweet ;0)

Edit! It dawned on me that I can't just pass this to everyone ... it's a award! So here are some oldies but goodies and a few new blogs that I' recently stumbled upon that are ... well ... you know what's coming .... SWEET!

Where the Wild Things Are

The Stitching Surgeon

Stitching at Stone Cottage

Oy With the Poodles Already

Funny Magic

Clothesline Chronicals

Born To Read and Knit

What A Wonderful World

I see skeins of green, wooden hooks too

I see things crocheted for me and you

And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skeins of blue and washcloths of white

The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in a scarf

Are on the necks of people going by

I see friends wearing my mittens waving how do you do

They're really saying I love you.

I see babies swaddled, in afghans I made

They'll be cozy wherever they are laid

And I think to myself what a wonderful world

Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.

Oh yeah ...

Fancy Footwork

It's time to start working on Christmas presents again ~ Mojo is no longer MIA.

This is a shoe tote from the book Simple Sewing with a French Twist. So fast and easy ... unless you are me. Well, it still was fast and easy, I just had to modify it a bit because I cut the pieces wrong. I'll blame it totally on my kiddos ... I was trying to read directions, cut, and sew all while running interference while the boys supposedly napped. I reversed the fabric - I cut the interior fabric to the exterior measurements and vice versa. ARG.

I wasn't going to be beat. I decided to chop off the pieces that were too big and sew them onto the pieces that were too small. I figured it would be the lining and wouldn't matter. Turns out, I think I'll make this "mistake" on the next couple I make ... I like it.

Nothing like a bit of fancy footwork to remedy a project gone awry!

Wordless Wednesday - Evolution

Finish Strong

Thought I would share this amazing story of courage, strength, and determination. Get your hankie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I0DRk8dFjI

It's Now How You Run The Race

There is a kids race every fall in memory of a local physician. We thought for sure they boys would enjoy it ...



John ran, I mean was carried first. As you can see, he was crying by the end. Poor baby.


Henry started out great ... then tripped and fell. It was over from there. DH had to carry John (since I was taking pictures) and walk the rest with Henry ... who himself was in tears by the end.

No worries though, cookies and trophies saved the day.

You know what they say, It's not how you run (walk or are carried for) the race, but that you finish. Henry is already talking about next year.

Hopefully I will have some goodies to share by the end of the week. They are working on our upstairs bathroom now so they boys shared a room for nap time ... in other words ... no nap. I started working on my to-sew Christmas list ... maybe I'll finish a thing or two to post. I'm trying to finish the race! Why won't someone carry me?! ;-)

For The Birds

I forgot what a pain managing multiple yards of fabric all at once was.

It was worth it though. I **love**love**love** this Joel Dewberry Aviary print. Working with close to 5 1/2 yards of fabric ... well ... let's just say I did it for the birds.

Obligatory Holiday Post

You know I just have to post Halloween pictures!

Hope your weekend was a spook-tacular one!